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Education Courses

ED 105 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an introduction to the history, theories and philosophies affecting early childhood education in the 21st century. Curriculum models and inclusionary practices infancy through fourth grade are investigated. The importance of social, economic and cultural diversity is explored for its implications on learning and teaching. Current trends and the future of early childhood education are discussed. Ethical and professional responsibilities of educators are addressed.

ED 135: Family and Community Relationships

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

Students learn the significance of the family-child-school relationship, the role of parents and other caregivers, and how to work effectively with diverse families and within diverse communities. Particular emphasis will be paid to cultural, ethnic, linguistic and economic diversity; nontraditional families; and families and communities faced with special challenges such as poverty. Involvement of parents and/or other primary caregivers in children's schooling is discussed at length, including various types of informal and formal home-school communications, home visits, home-school meetings and conferences. Students learn how to develop partnerships with families, including those with children who have special developmental needs, and study the legal rights of the child, special housing concerns and social service agency support.

ED 151: Health, Safety and Nutrition of Young Children

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an overview of information and procedures related to the health, safety and nutrition of young children, birth to fourth grade. Students will learn techniques for maintaining a safe and healthy classroom environment; for providing health, safety, and nutrition education for young children and their families; for working with children with special needs; for advocating for children and families; and for responding to a range of childhood illnesses and emergencies. In addition, students will be provided with information about the ways that specific health or social problems, including HIV/AIDS, homelessness and family violence affect child health and development. **Note - ED 151 REPLACES ECE 151

ED 201 Foundations of Education for Middle and Secondary Years

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

Foundations of education in the middle and secondary years are examined from socio-cultural, historical and philosophical perspectives. Current trends and contemporary issues in education are discussed and adolescent development is explored. A 20-hour field experience is embedded in the course. Therefore, students enrolled in this course must have up-to-date child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances, as detailed under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Clearances must be less than one year old at the start of the semester when the student is enrolled in this course. ENGL 101, may be taken concurrently.

ED 204 Curriculum and Instruction: Engaging Young Children in the Learning Process

3-0-1-3

Credit Hours: 3

In this course, students will study and develop strategies for engaging the young child in the learning process. They will recognize effective strategies for developing positive relationships and for promoting active participation in meaningful, relevant experiences that support concept and content development. They will develop instructional strategies to scaffold learning experiences across content areas and identify ways to create positive and stimulating environments that support the learning process. This course will include 10 hours observation/exploration in an early childhood education setting. Eligibility for enrollment in this course is based upon student acquisition of Pennsylvania criminal and child abuse clearances, a health clearance, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) check showing eligibility to work with children. Clearances must be less than one year old at the start of the semester when the student is enrolled in this course. Prerequisite:ED 105.

ED 214 Cognition and Learning in the Classroom

3-0-1-3

Credit Hours: 3

This course will explore cognition and learning in children and adolescents. Factors that affect learning such as: motivation, culture, gender, family and community will be studied. Students will also examine current research that is linked to best teaching practices. A 10-hour field experience is embedded in this course. Therefore, students enrolled in this course must have up-to-date child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances, as detailed under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Prerequisites:ENGL 101 and PSYC 101.

ED 222 Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

The course provides an examination of the processes of language and literacy development from birth through first grade. Students will demonstrate skill in a range of individually and culturally responsive instructional approaches and materials. Students will develop an understanding of emergent language and reading development, as well as an understanding of learning theory and motivation in order to effectively ground their instructional decision making. Prerequisites:PSYC 201 and ED 204 or ED 214.

ED 230: Integrating the Arts into Early Childhood Education

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

The course provides students with an overview of information and strategies for integrating the creative arts into the early childhood curriculum. It includes experiences to help prospective teachers understand the role the creative arts play both in supporting children's development and informing learning in other disciplines. Students explore drama, movement, music and visual arts for children, birth through fourth grade, from the perspective of child development theories. Connections between the arts, individual development and curricular subjects guide the course. This integrationist approach views the arts as meaningful sources of expression, culture, learning and joy. Prerequisite:ED 105.

ED 245 Assessment of Young Children

3-0-1.5-3

Credit Hours: 3

Students in this course develop skills for child observation and the use of developmentally appropriate methods and instruments for assessment of children birth through fourth grade. Students will learn to collect and interpret information about children in the context of classroom routines, and to use this data to assess development and achievement of essential skills. This course will include 20 hours observing and assessing young children in an educational setting. Therefore, students enrolled in this course must have up-to-date child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances as detailed under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Prerequisites:ED 204 or ED 214.

ED 250 Infant and Toddler Development and Curriculum

3-0-1-3

Credit Hours: 3

In this course students will study the social, emotional, cognitive, physical and language development of children birth through age three. Students will implement theories and research to design programming that supports healthy adult-child relationships and provides infants and toddlers with developmentally appropriate curriculum. This course includes 10 hours of observation/exploration in infant/toddler classrooms. Therefore, students enrolled in this course must have up-to-date child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances as detailed under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Prerequisites:ED 204 or ED 214.

ED 255: Teaching English Language Learners

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

ED 255 introduces prospective teachers to theories of language and second language acquisition and equips them with the linguistic, pedagogical and professional knowledge and skills they need to instruct and assess linguistically and culturally diverse students. Legal requirements related to ELLs are also studied. Prerequisites:ED 105 or ED 201 and ED 204 or ED 214.

ED 265: Introduction to Special Education and Inclusive Practices

3-0-1-3

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an introduction to the field of special education and the legal mandates guiding inclusive classroom practices. Students will be introduced to the characteristics of children with specific disabilities or atypical development and to the specialized instruction and services designed to meet individualized student needs. A strong emphasis will be placed on evidenced-based practices and multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches to special education. Multicultural and diversity issues will also be discussed. 10 hours of observation in an inclusive learning environment will be required. Therefore, students enrolled in this course must have up-to-date child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances as detailed under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Prerequisites:ED 105 or ED 201, and PSYC 201 or PSYC 209, or PSYC 215.

ED 275 Early Childhood Professional Leadership

3-0-3

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of leaders in the early childhood profession. Topics discussed will include advocacy, organizational structure, team building, transformational leadership, visionary skills, and a systems building approach to leadership using emotional intelligence. This course is open only to early childhood professionals in the Pennsylvania Director’s Credential Program.

ED 290 Early Childhood Education Practicum

2-0-7-4

Credit Hours: 4

This course provides a supervised field experience. Students participate in a weekly seminar along with eight hours of field work over 12 weeks for a total of 96 hours of field experiences with infants, toddlers or preschoolers. Students are placed at school or program sites selected by College faculty. Students will reflect on their experiences through written assignments and weekly entries in practicum logs. During seminar, students will discuss issues related to on-site learning. Eligibility for enrollment in this course is based upon student acquisition of Pennsylvania criminal and child abuse clearances, a health clearance, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) check showing eligibility to work with children. Clearances must be less than one year old at the start of the semester when the student is enrolled in the practicum. This course is restricted to students in the Education: Early Childhood (Birth to 4th Grade) option. Prerequisites:ED 222 and ED 245.